A “cool roof” isn’t just a roof that looks really “boss,” “neat,” or even “swell.” It is a roof that is designed to reflect more sunlight than a conventional one, and absorb less solar energy as a result. Whereas a typical roof can become as hot as 150 °F during a sunny day, the temperature of a cool roof can remain as low as 100 °F under the same conditions.
A cool roof’s utility is quite obvious in hotter states such as Texas and Florida. But even homes and businesses in cooler states like Minnesota and Delaware stand much to gain from the addition of cool roofs.
Are you considering upgrading your home roofing, business roofing, farm roofing, or even your grain elevator roofing in the coming year? Then here are the reasons why you should strongly consider adding a cool roof!
A Cool Roof Saves Money
The more solar energy your roof absorbs, the higher your building’s indoor temperature will become. That is why air conditioning currently accounts for more than 70% of peak residential electricity demand in extremely hot areas.
Because it reflects sunlight so efficiently, a cool roof significantly reduces the need for air conditioning. It can passively reduce internal building temperature by as much as 30%, and reduce air conditioning costs by 10 to 30% as a result.
A Cool Roof Extends an Air Conditioner’s Lifespan
A cool roof will not merely save you money by reducing your air conditioning needs. By giving your air conditioner less work to do, a cool roof will appreciably lengthen your air conditioner’s lifespan.
A cool roof also helps preserve any HVAC or other mechanical equipment installed on the rooftop by protecting them against thermal shock. Extreme shifts in temperature cause metal components to expand and contract, which weaken them in addition to loosening their fasteners. By promoting a more stable rooftop temperature, a cool roof safeguards valuable machinery against thermal stress that can eventually break it.
A Cool Roof Reduces Carbon Emissions
The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that air conditioning usage accounts for the production of approximately 117 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) each year – and that figure only encompasses the United States. That is roughly the equivalent CO2 output of 25 million passenger vehicles, which means air conditioning produces about 9% as much CO2 as all passenger vehicles in the country combined.
Your own cool roof will not summarily resolve the global warming crisis. But it will help contribute to the solution, so you can stand tall and proud as a good global citizen.
A Cool Roof Reduces the Urban Heat Island Effect
An urban heat island is any area that is blanketed with pavement, buildings, and other dark surfaces which characteristically absorb, retain, and gradually release heat. In addition to increased air conditioning costs, the urban heat island effect causes increased pollution and heat-related illnesses among residents as well.
According to NYC °CoolRoofs, coating every eligible dark rooftop in New York City could produce a 1° reduction in ambient temperature throughout the city. Adding a cool roof to your own property will not make a noticeable difference to surrounding ambient temperature, but it will contribute to overall cooler temperatures in whichever municipality you call home.
A Cool Roof Can Indeed Look “Cool”
Improved aesthetics are a secondary benefit of adding a cool roof to your home or business, but they still deserve consideration. Although some types of cool roofs only include unremarkable membranes or shingles, others have quite a striking appearance. A roof that is primarily composed of light-colored stones can give a property a stately or rugged appearance, depending on which types of stones are used. And if you install a green roof, which is predominantly made of living plants, then you’re certain to own one of the most extraordinary properties in your area.
Would you like to learn more about the benefits of upgrading your roof? Then we welcome you to contact NIJAC Roofing & Insulation today! Our expertise extends beyond industrial insulation and grain elevator insulation. As one of the United States’ preeminent authorities on roof maintenance, repair and installation, we regularly advise our clients on how they can save money and conserve the environment through innovative roofing solutions.